Transit officials kill 19th Street Bridge

A view at the end of 19th St. in Costa Mesa which would have stretched across to Huntington Beach along the line of the telephone poles. The bridge would have crossed the Santa Ana River bed to Banning Ave. in Huntington Beach and would have connected the two cities. The proposed 19th Street bridge was to connect the two cities but the plan has been scrapped. ANA VENEGAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Graphics

County transportation officials voted unanimously Monday morning to remove the 19th Street Bridge from the county master plan in response to severe community opposition and the $150 million price tag.

The measure, brought forward by Huntington Beach Mayor and Orange County Transportation Authority board member Don Hansen, puts an end to two decades of debate over the connection, which would link Westside Costa Mesa and southeast Huntington Beach.

Despite years of recurring discussions, talks have always led to a stalemate, Hansen said.

“The definition of insanity is to do the same thing over and over again and get the same result,” Hansen said in the meeting. “I just think it’s time to call this question once and for all.”

The 19th Street Bridge carried a number of challenges making its construction unlikely, including environmental and community impacts, according to an OCTA staff report.

The board’s action makes a one-time exception to the master plan of arterial highway’s policy in light of the bridge’s challenges and local opposition.

The residents of Huntington Beach and Costa Mesa have fiercely opposed a 19th Street Bridge for years. In January, more than 500 residents showed near-unanimous support for removing the bridge at a public meeting at Eader Elementary in Huntington. Hansen and County Supervisor John Moorlach presided over that meeting.

The Huntington Beach and Costa Mesa City Councils have recently passed resolutions reaffirming opposition to the bridge and sent letters to OCTA requesting the bridge’s removal from the master plan of arterial highways. Newport Beach has been the sole hold-out in support of the bridge, asking OCTA at the end of February to further study on the matter.

At the OCTA meeting, Newport Beach City Councilman Steve Rosansky and Director of Public Works Dave Webb asked the board to keep the bridge on the master plan as the three cities convene to discuss traffic improvements without it.

“If you remove this link, the traffic will move. It will shift … to Coast Highway,” Webb said.

The board’s alternative option was to relegate the bridge to a “right-of-way reserve” status, which means cities and developers would not be able to consider a future 19th Street Bridge in traffic impact modeling studies. During this period, OCTA and stakeholder cities would have to come to a consensus on roadway improvements before the bridge could be removed from the plan. The Garfield-Gisler Bridge is currently undergoing that process.

Of the 11 board members present, all agreed Tuesday that it was unlikely a consensus would ever be reached. Director Janet Nguyen abstained from the vote, saying she wanted the board to adhere to the proper procedure for removing the bridge.

Related Links

A view at the end of 19th St. in Costa Mesa which would have stretched across to Huntington Beach along the line of the telephone poles. The bridge would have crossed the Santa Ana River bed to Banning Ave. in Huntington Beach and would have connected the two cities. The proposed 19th Street bridge was to connect the two cities but the plan has been scrapped. ANA VENEGAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
A view at the end of 19th St. in Costa Mesa which would have stretched across to Huntington Beach along the line of the telephone poles. The bridge would have crossed the Santa Ana River bed to Banning Ave. in Huntington Beach and would have connected the two cities. The proposed 19th Street bridge was to connect the two cities but the plan has been scrapped. ANA VENEGAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
A cyclist rides along the Santa Ana River Trail in Huntington Beach at the spot where a bridge would have connected Costa Mesa to Huntington Beach from 19th St in Costa Mesa to Banning Ave, in Huntington Beach. The bridge will not be built. ANA VENEGAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
A view from Costa Mesa to Huntington Beach and the ocean beyond from the end of 19th Street in Costa Mesa. A proposed 19th Street bridge was to connect the two cities but the plan has been scrapped.u ANA VENEGAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Cyclists ride along the Santa Ana River Trail in HUntington Beach near the site where a bridge would have connected Costa Mesa to Huntington Beach. The proposed 19th Street bridge has been scrapped. ANA VENEGAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

1 of

User Agreement

Keep it civil and stay on topic. No profanity, vulgarity, racial
slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about
tragedies will be blocked. By posting your comment, you agree to
allow Orange County Register Communications, Inc. the right to
republish your name and comment in additional Register publications
without any notification or payment.